Article carrier



Oct. 23, 1962 J; A. KELLEY ARTICLE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1960 INVEN TOR. L/gOJZ/V A. K514 5).

4 TTOfMEX Get. 23, 1962 J. A. KELLEY ARTICLE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1960 m E K A W J rates atent 3,059,875 ARTICLE @ARRIER John A. Kelley, 404 Warren Bldg, Michigan City, Ind. Filed July 12, 1960, Ser. No. 42,412 10 Claims. (Cl. 24335) This invention relates to improvements in article carriers. More particularly, the invention relates to a captive article carrier adapted to be used in a pneumatic conveyor system of the general character illustrated and described in patent application of John A. Kelley and William C. Zehnpfennig, Ser. No. 764,878, filed October 2, 1958, for Pneumatic Article Carrier.

A captive pneumatic article carrier of the type here under consideration shuttles between spaced stations through a tube having substantially upright end portions so that opposite ends thereof are uppermost at the two opposite stations. This arrangement requires a carrier capable of being opened at both sides thereof and regardless of which end thereof is uppermost. Such carriers are intended for use in banking services as for the purpose of enabling a customer to drive to a kiosk at a curb and to do his banking from his car. This service frequently entails the need to handle loose coins with assurance that they will not be lost from the container or carrier during transit and during such times as the orientation or position of the carrier Changes to reverse the end thereof which is positioned uppermost.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel, simple, inexpensive, effective carrier capable of being opened at either of two sides thereof and having clearance between the parts thereof small enough to insure against loss of contents therefrom incident to change in the position or orientation of the carrier in transit.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away, illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the construction shown in FIG. 4;

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral designates an article carrier which is adapted to traverse a tube (not shown) extending between two stations at which the tube ends will preferably be substantially upright. The stations may be located at a distance from each other, and in one form of the invention intended for use by banks in order to provide curb service or remote station service to customers, one of the stations may be located out of doors while the other station may be located within a bank building. The exterior station may constitute a kiosk building or housing preferably having a television receiver and a television transmitter or camera focused upon a space adjacent the housing and alongside an opening at which a user has access to the carrier. Thus a user standing in a position to use the device is viewed by the television camera therein and at the same time can view a television receiving screen associated with a transmitter or camera at a station within the building focused upon the teller or other operator of the system. The teller in turn has a television receiver or screen in his View so that he can view the customer. Suitable means are provided to propel the article carrier in the tube between stations. Such means may constitute blowers under the control of valves, as illustrated in patent application, Ser. No. 764,878, filed October 2, 1958. However, it will be understood that pneumatic propulsion systems for advancing carriers from end to end in a tube are Well known in the art, and any conventional type of propulsion mechanism or arrangement found suitable may be employed. The tube will be provided with an opening at each station and suitable means for positioning the carrier at each station adjacent such opening to facilitate operation thereof but to prevent removal of the carrier from the tube.

The carrier has two end members 12 which preferably are padded at 14, as shown in FIG. 2, and whose shape is similar and preferably substantially oval, as shown, to provide a snug sliding fit within the tube it is to traverse which is preferably of similar cross-section so as to be continuously contacted by the padded end members 14. If desired, each end member may be provided with a gasket or seal member (not shown) whose outer dimen sion is preferably slightly greater than the inner transverse dimension of the bore of the tube so as to provide a positive seal between the gasket and the tube in the manner described in co-pending application, Ser. No. 764,878. The end members-12 are positioned in spaced parallel relation and are interconnected by side walls 16. i

A shaft 18 is journalled between side walls 16 adjacent each end member 12 and the shafts 18 at opposite ends of the carrier are located adjacent opposite side edges of the side walls 16. Each shaft 18 mounts the end of a tray to swing said tray between a closed position, as illustrated in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a tilted or open position, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 4, upon rocking of the shaft 18 which mounts it. Each tray is of substantially U-shape in cross-section, having a back panel 20 and a pair of spaced side panels 22. The back panel 24} merges with an end panel 24 at One end thereof, said end panel 24 preferably being inclined relative to back panel 20 and terminating inwardly spaced from the ends of the adjacent side panels 22 at which the tray is anchored to the shaft 18. The end edges of the side walls 22 at the portions projecting beyond the end wall 24 preferably have a curved shape, as seen in. FIG. 2. The free longitudinal edges of the side walls 22 are preferably parallel and inclined relative to back panel 26 so as to be comparatively narrow at the end thereof opposite the end from which the end wall 24 projects. The side walls 22 of the two tray sections preferably register and abut, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the normal position thereof by spring means. The pring means may comprise springs having coiled end sections 26 encircling the shaft 18, an intermediate offset portion bearing against or anchored to the adjacent tray end 12 at 28 and terminal portions 30' hearing against the adjacent tray wall 20.

Each of the end members 12 has an opening therein outwardly of the adjacent side wall 16 of the carrier through which extends a plunger 32 which may have an enlarged head 34 at the end thereof. The plunger 32 is shiftable in a guide member 36 carried by the adjacent side wall 16. A cam abutment 38 is mounted on the plunger 32 intermediate the length thereof and inwardly of the end member 12 and a coil spring .49 encircles the plunger 32 and bears at its opposite ends on the guide 36 and the cam projection 38.

A lever 42 is pivoted at 44 on carrier wall 16 and in turn is pivotally connected at 46 to a link member 48 which in turn is pivotally connected at 50 to an arm 52 fixed upon an end of the shaft 18 which is remote from the member 12 of the carrier through which the associ ated plunger 32 projects. A similar arrangement is 10- cated at each ide of the carrier with the plungers 32 projecting from opposite end members 12. Thus it will be apparent that when one of the plungers 32 is depressed against the action of the spring 40, the associated lever 42 is swung counter-clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, in a manner to bodily move the link 48 and to swing the arm 52 in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to open the tray mounted upon the shaft 18 with which the arm 52 so swung is associated. Likewise, upon release of the plunger 32, the springs 26 and 40 return the tilted tray to normal position and return the plunger to its normal position.

Each carrier side wall 16 has a notch 54 formed therein adjacent one end thereof in laterally spaced relation to the adjacent shaft 18. Each notch 54 receives the end of a hook 56 mounted on a cam abutment 58 pivoted at 60 to the wall 16 adjacent to the normal position of the cam abutment 38. The cam abutment 38 is provided with an inclined cam surface 62 which the cam abutment 58 engages and which serves to swing the cam abutment 58 counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, while the cam abutment 38 is moved incident to movement of plunger 38. The hook 56 engages the upper free end of the tray mounted upon the shaft 18 at the opposite end of the carrier, i.e., the tray which is actuated by the plunger 32 which serves to Shift the hook. Thus it will be apparent that initial movement of the plunger 32 pivots the cam abutment 58 to a slight extent for movement in the notch 54 to a position free of the edge of the tray so that the tray is released for pivotal movement by continued operation of the plunger 32. Likewise, upon spring release of the plunger 32 for return to normal position by the spring 40 and the tray spring 26, the tray is closed as the plunger 32 approaches normal condition and the last increment of movement of the plunger acts to permit swinging of the hook 56 into position to engage and lock the tray in closed position in the carrier.

Each tray is of shorter length than the spacing between the end members 12, and each end of the tray is spaced from the adjacent end member. A narrow wall or abutment 70 is mounted between adjacent side walls 16 at each end of the carrier with the abutments 7 at opposite ends being located at opposite sides of the carrier. Each abutment 70 is engaged by a lip 72 at the free end of the cooperating tray, as best seen in FIG. 2. The inner or free margin of each abutment 70 is provided with anchor or mounting means 74 to which is anchored one margin of a flexible web 76. The opposite edge or margin of the web 76 is anchored at 78 to the free end of the tray part 24. The web 76, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is formed of rubber or plastic sheet material, flexible metal foil, or metal pring steel preferably less than .005 inch, such as the type of steel used in feeler gauges. The web 76 is preferably of a width to extend between the side walls and substantially in edge abutment therewith with a clearance between said side walls 16 and said web 76 preferably being less than the thickness of a small coin. The web preferably is normally shaped to follow the contour of and bear against the free projecting edge portions of the side walls 22 of the tray, as seen in FIG. 2. The width of the web 76 extending from side wall 16 to opposite side wall 16, and the configuration or shape of the web to engage and follow the shape of the free end of the tray Wall 22 insure the formation of an enclosure between the trays which will confine small coins and which will prevent papers therein from being caught.

The provision of the web 76 permits the trays to open through an angle of 80 degrees or more, but preferably less than 90 degrees in most instances. The flexibility of the web permits it to accommodate itself to movement of the tray between closed and open position. Likewise, it will be seen that the web 76 is flexed in its normal position, as seen in FIG. 2, so as to accommodate movement of the anchor point thereof to the tray incident to pivoting of the tray. This construction also permits the use of similar trays having edge abutment rather than trays which fit one within another, as illustrated in application, Ser. No. 764,878. Furthermore, the use of the web permits opening of the container by pivoting of one tray only while the other remains stationary, which is distinguished from certain prior constructions where the opening of one tray causes some movement of another tray, as is true in application, Ser. No. 764,878.

While it will be observed that a slight gap occurs between the web 76 and the free end of one tray, such as the left tray as seen in FIG. 2, the provision of such a gap is immaterial because of its small size, i.e., smaller than the smallest coin, and also because the web 76 extends between the side walls 16 of the carrier. Another characteristic of the construction which should be observed is that the point of anchorage of the web 76 at 78 to the tray is adjacent to the pivot axis 18 of that tray so that the component of movement of the point of anchorage in a direction away from the point of anchorage 74 of the opposite end of the web 76 is small even through a substantial arc of movement, such as 80 degrees. It will be evident that by providing flexure of the web 76 in greater amount than here illustrated, a greater angular range of tray opening movement may be provided.

An alternate construction is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein wire mesh 80 constitutes a flexible web interconnecting the inner end of abutment 70 and the free end of wall 24 or end member of one of the trays. The wire mesh will be sufliciently fine to retain coins and prevent catching of papers therein, will extend between the side walls 16 with clearance less than the thickness of a coin, and will be arranged in substantially the same manner as the flexible webs described above and will serve the same purpose. In this instance, however, pivot means are preferably provided for anchoring the opposite ends of the wire mesh web 89 and the same may constitute piano-type hinges at 82 and 84, as seen in FIG. 4, effecting connections, respectively, with the abutment 70 and the tray end wall lip 24. Such pivoting, coupled with the inherent flexibility of the wire mesh, permits the mesh to serve the same purpose as the web previously described.

An alternate pivot connection between each end of mesh 80 and the parts 70 and 24 may be provided, as shown in FIG. 5. In this construction the margins of the parts, such as 24, to which the mesh is to be anchored has a linear series of spaced apertures 86 formed therein. The adjacent end of the wire mesh will include a transverse wire or pintle member 88. A wire coil 90 whose convolutions are spaced similarly to the apertures 86 and to the spacing between adjacent links 92 of the mesh is threaded to interconnect the mesh with the apertured part by rotation thereof to pass through apertures 86 and around pintle 88 at spaced points between links. This provides an effective free pivotal connection between the mesh and the connected part, and at the same time is effective to retain coins and avoid gripping of papers, etc.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An article carrier comprising a rigid frame having spaced end members and a pair of opposed spaced side members, a pair of substantially similar trays, each tray having a back wall, side walls and an end wall, means pivotally mounting said trays adjacent the end walls thereof in opposed relation within and at opposite ends of said frame whereby each tray has a free end, a pair of abutments carried by said frame at opposite sides and opposite ends thereof and each engaged by the free end of a tray, spring means normally urging said trays toward each other to closed position with the edges of their side walls substantially abutting, and a pair of flexible webs each anchored at one margin to an abutment and at its opposite margin to a tray end wall, said webs spanning the space between said frame side members and cooperating with said trays to define a normally closed article-carrying compartment within said frame.

2. An article carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said webs are flexed in closed compartment position to accommodate variation of the spacing of the points of connection of opposite ends of each web incident to pivoting of the associated tray from closed to open position 3. An article carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said Webs constitute wire mesh.

4. An article carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the ends of said webs are connected to an abutment and a tray end wall respectively, by pivot means.

5. An article carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said webs constitute wire mesh and are connected to said abutment and tray end wall, respectively, by means of piano hinges.

6. An article carrier as defined in claim 1, and a pair of selectively operable actuators each connected with and operable to pivot one of said trays.

7. An article carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein a margin of said web and of a part to which said web margin is connected have openings arranged in series therein, and a helical member passes through said openings to form a pivot between said web and part.

8. An article carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said webs constitute wire mesh having spaced openings at their ends, said tray end wall and said abutment each having a series of apertures therein, and a helical member threaded through each series of apertures and through the openings in the adjacent end of a web to define a hinge.

9. An article carrier comprising a rigid frame having spaced end members and a pair of spaced side members, a pair of trays, means pivotally mounting said trays in opposed relation at opposite ends and within said frame, each tray'having a back wall, side walls, an end wall adjacent said pivot means and an opposed free end, a pair of abutments carried by said frame, spring means normally urging said trays to closed position with the free end of each engaging an abutment and the tray side 'walls substantially in edge engagement, and a pair of flexible webs spanning the space between said frame side members and each anchored at one end to an abutment and at its opposite end to a tray end wall.

10. An article carrier comprising a rigid frame having spaced end members, spaced side members and transverse members connecting said side members and arranged in diagonally opposed relation in said frame, a pair of trays each pivoted adjacent to one of said transverse members, means urging said trays to a closed position in said frame, said trays cooperating in said closed position to define a substantially closed chamber having openings between said transverse members and the adjacent tray pivot, and a pair of flexible Webs each spanning one of said tray chamber openings and anchored to a transverse member and to a tray adjacent its pivot.

No references cited. 

